A Very Gentle Answer
Matthew 11:28-29 - Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls. (NIV)
Recently my grandchildren came to spend a few days with me.
They had a wonderful time splashing and playing most of a
day in a new pool that had been set up just for them. My
grandson, aged seven, wanted to show me how he could do
underwater somersaults. When he did, however, the water
backed up in his nose and hurt his head something awful.
After a few minutes, he was just fine, but later that night,
as he lay on his blanket before the television, he started
to moan. The headache had come back with such pain that all
he could do was moan. Nothing I did for him seemed to help.
I was hurting for him. "Well," I thought, "I will take him
to the Lord in prayer." I had read in Mark 10:14, "Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (NIV) As I stroked
my grandson's hair, I prayed.
The most amazing and gentle thing happened. Our cat, Flower,
rose from my granddaughter's lap and proceeded across the
blanket until she reached my ailing grandson. Then, ever so
gently, she lifted a tiny paw and seemed to reach out ever
so softly to touch that hurting head. She nestled by my
grandson's head and lay quietly. Slowly my grandson raised
his head and said, "Grammie, Flower is working on it."
Well, I just sat there. There was an amazing gentleness in
the room; everything became so gentle. In about six minutes
the boy looked up and said, "It is gone. Grammie, Jesus sent
Flower to help me!"
The headache gone, we rewarded Flower with a fresh boiled
egg, and, with thanks in our hearts, we sat for quite some
time in that feeling of gentleness that prevailed around us.
We had no doubts that it was the Lord who said, "bring your
children to me."
Prayer: Lord, we are grateful that gentleness is one of the
marks of Your ways in dealing with Your people. Though we
may be surprised at the ways Your gentleness is revealed,
give us eyes to see, and hearts ready to say, "Thank You,
Lord." In Jesus' name we pray, and in Jesus' name we say,
"Thanks!" Amen.
Sandra Kay Taylor
santaylors@aol.com Westminster, South Carolina,
USA